Jack Massey ready for step up / Bryce Goodridge nears debut

RINGSIDE 07/03/2019

Without too many outside the trade noticing, Massey has won all 15 fights (eight inside the distance) and now the cruiserweight contender’s injury problems are behind him and Kevin Maree is managing him, the 25 year old from Derbyshire reckons this will be his year.

His first outing is on Maree’s show in Blackburn on Saturday, March 30 and provided there are no hiccups, he should go on to fight for the WBO European belt on BT Sports.

“I’ve had a slow start to my pro career,” said Massey. “There have been injuries and shows being pulled.

“Because of injury, I only boxed twice last year.

“I’m 25 now and this is the time for me to step up and fight for big titles on television. I have boxed on big shows without getting on TV. I want to get noticed this year.”

Massey thought he was going to get some exposure on the Josh Warrington-Carl Frampton undercard in Manchester in December.

His fight with Jiri Svacina would have been screened live on BT Sport had there been early finishes to any of the undercard fights.

As it turned out, every fight went the distance and the arena was virtually empty by the time Massey fought.

“I had my hands wrapped at four thirty,” he said, “but didn’t get in the ring until 10 past midnight.

“That’s a long time to be waiting.

“It takes it out of you. It’s stressful.”

Massey still produced the KO – as he often does.

Eight of his 15 wins have come by KO. “I’ve got power in both hands,” said Massey.

‘One Smack,’ as he has been nicknamed, has been fighting under the radar since turning pro in 2013, but followers of amateur boxing have been well aware him for a while.

Boxing for Buxton ABC, he won a clutch of junior honours, Commonwealth Youth bronze and in 2013, he won the ABA cruiserweight title, beating Chris Billam-Smith in the final.

Billam-Smith is also an unbeaten pro under Barry McGuigan and Massey said: “I’m looking forward to having hard fights. I want to test myself. I feel I’m being dodged. We’ve asked for a few fights and we’ve either been turned down or they have asked for too much money. I’m hoping the big fights will happen in 2019.”

mtk

Bryce Goodridge is targeting light-heavyweight honours after deciding to turn pro – and he’s not the type to give up on his goals.

Goodridge makes his paid debut on promoter Steve Bendall’s show in Southampton on Saturday, March 30 with a good amateur career behind him.

He finally won the Elite title last year – at the eighth attempt and in his 112th bout.

“I kept getting close,” said the 28 year old from Basingstoke. “I was always reaching the quarter finals, semi finals or even the final.

“I knew I would get there eventually, so I just kept going and I was so happy when I finally got it.”

Goodridge estimates he had 115 amateur bouts in total – “winning around 78” – at a variety of weights.

He said: “I started at 75kgs and went up as high as 91kgs. But I was never a 91kgs fighter. I just went there to get fights.”